Convertible shipping and display packing device

ABSTRACT

A substantially rigid sheet-material body is elongated and subdivided by transversely extending fold lines so as to form connected plate portions of triangular shape which can be folded along the fold lines. The bases of alternate ones of the plate portions are located at one lateral margin of the elongated strip-shaped sheet material body, and the bases of the remaining plate portions are located at the other lateral margin. The two terminal plate portions have at their free edges foldable flaps. The body can be folded in one direction about the respective fold lines so that it forms a pyramidal package and surrounds objects which are secured on that major surface or side of the body which is folded inwardly. The body can, also be folded to the opposite direction so that the first mentioned side carrying these objects will be exposed at the exterior and objects mounted thereon will be exposed for viewing. A rubber band or similar means engages the foldable flaps and retains them releasably in overlying relationship so that the body can be releasably retained in one or the other pyramidal configuration.

United States Patent 1 Wallach CONVERTIBLE SHIPPING AND DISPLAY PACKING DEVICE [76] Inventor: Harvey Wallach, 29 Gun Lane,

Levittown, N.Y. l 1726 22 Filed: Mar.23, 1971 2'11 Appl.No.: 127,236

[52] US. Cl ..206/45.1l, 229/22 [51] Int. Cl ..B65d 5/44, B65d 5/00 [58] Field of Search... ..206/45.l l, 44 R;

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 204,441 6/1878 Marshall ..229/22 Primary Examiner-Leonard Summer Attorney-Michael S. Striker [451 May 29, 1973 1 ABSTRACT A substantiallyrigid sheet-material body is elongated and subdivided by transversely extending fold lines so as to form connected plate portions of triangular shape which can be folded along the fold lines. The bases of alternate ones of the plate portions are located at one lateral margin of the elongated stripshaped sheet material body, and the bases of the remaining plate portions are located at the other lateral margin. The two terminal plate portions have at their free edges foldable flaps. The body can be folded in one direction about the respective fold lines so that it forms a pyramidal package and surrounds objects which are secured on that major surface or side of the body which is folded inwardly. The body can, also be folded to the opposite direction so that the first mentioned side carrying these objects will be exposed at the exterior and objects mounted thereon will be exposed for viewing. A rubber band or similar means engages the foldable flaps and retains them releasably in overlying relationship so that the body can be releasably retained in one or the other pyramidal configuration.

7 Claims, 5 Drawing Figures PATENTED W29 I973 SHEET 1 [1F 2 INVENTOR ma 0:7 Unman- ATTORNEY CONVERTIBLE SHIPPING AND DISPLAY PACKING DEVICE BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION aware of a package which is readily convertible in the sense that it can be used both for mailing of objects and, by a simple conversion due to a reversal of its exposed and concealed sides, can serve as an exhibition stand for the same objects.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION such a package which also serves as a mount for the objects which are being mailed in it and which subsequently can be exhibited with it. p

A still further object of the invention is to provide such a package which is exceedingly simple and inexpensive to manufacture.

In pursuance of the above objects and of others which will become apparent hereafter, one feature of the invention resides in a convertible package comprising a substantially rigid elongated sheet-material body having two opposite exposed sides one of which is adapted to carry discrete objects thereon. A plurality of fold lines subdivide this elongated body into a plurality of longitudinally arrayed plate portions of triangular outline, with the bases of alternate plate portions being located at one and the bases of the remaining plate portions being located at the other lateral margin of the elongated body. The body can be folded along the fold lines in one direction from a flat condition to a first erected condition in which the plate portions surround an enclosed space with the aforementioned one side facing inwardly of the same so that objects provided on that one side are located in the interior of this enclosed space. Retaining means is provided for releasably retaining the body in this first erected condition so that it can be used for instance for mailing the objects. The body can, however, also be folded in the opposite direction so that, when the retaining means has been released, it can be folded back to flat condition and subsequently in the opposite direction to another second erected condition in which the plate portions again surround an enclosed space but in which the side carrying the objects faces outwardly of this enclosed space so that the objects are exposed at the interior of the package and can be viewed.

The sheet material body advantageously is of cardboard, preferably corrugated cardboard, but it will be appreciated that other materials, including various synthetic plastics, are equally suitable. The fold lines can be embossed, scored, impressed or otherwise provided.

A very simple way of providing releasable retaining means is to utilize a rubber band, but it will be again appreciated that other means can also be utilized.

The novel features which are considered as characteristic for the invention are set forth in particular in the appended claims. The invention itself, however, both as to its construction and its method of operation, together with additional v objects and advantages thereof, will be best understood from the following description of specific embodiments when read in connecfion with the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIG. 1 is a plan view of one side of a sheet material body according to the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a view similar to FIG. 1 but showing the opposite side of the body in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 shows my novel package which is obtained when the body of FIG. 1 and 2 is folded in one direction so that the side exposed in FIG. 2 faces the interior of the package;

FIG. 4 is a view similar to FIG. 3 but showing the body folded so that the side shown in FIG. 2 faces the exterior of the package; and

FIG. 5 shows by way of example mounting means for mounting objects on the one side of the body.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Discussing now the drawing in detail it will be seen that in FIG. 1 I have shown a sheet-material body which is substantially rigid, that is it must be a selfsupporting sheet material. As pointed out before, cardboard, corrugated cardboard, plastic, sheet metal or. other materials are suitable for this purpose. The body is elongated and is identified with reference numeral 1; it is stripshaped and has two opposite transversely spaced longitudinally extending lateral margins as shown. It is subdivided by a plurality of fold lines 4 which extend transversely of these margins into plate sections la, lb, 10 and M which are arrayed longitudinally of the body 1 and which are of triangular outline. The two terminal plate sections la and 1d each have a free edge which faces longitudinally of the elongation of the body and which is provided with a foldable flap 2. The juncture of the flaps with the respective plate portions 1a and Ed is provided with a notch 3 for purposes still to be described. It will be seen that the bases of alternate ones of the plate portions, that is of the plate portions 1a and .lc are located at one lateral margin whereas the apices of the triangles represented by these plate portions 1a and 1c are located at the opposite lateral margin. Conversely, the bases of the remaining plate portions 1b and 1d are located at the opposite lateral margin as illustrated. The surfaces of the plate portions may be provided with promotional material, for instance the name of a firm, a trademark, pictures or the like. One of the surfaces, in the illustrated embodiment the surface of the plate portion 1a may be provided with a mailing label.

FIG. 2 shows the opposite side of the body illustrated in FIG. 1. In other words, whereas one major side A is illustrated in FIG. 1, the opposite major side B is shown in FIG. 2. It will be seen that on the side B the exposed surface portions on the plate portions lb, 10 and 1d are provided with circles indicating where objects to be secured on the side B are to be fastened. Of course, the

locations identified by the circles need not be those which have been illustrated. The surface of the remaining plate portion, here the plate portion la, may be provided again with a trademark, a firm name, or the like; the reason no objects are to be mounted on it will be apparent and will in any case be discussed subsequently.

As FIG. 3 shows, folding of the body or FIG. 1 along the fold lines 4, can be carried out in one direction in such a manner that the side A is exposed in the resulting erected pyramidal package, whereas the side B is concealed in the interior of the enclosed space which is now surrounded by the various plate portions lw-ld. The mailing label on the plate portion 1a is exposed and a mailing address may be written or otherwise provided on this mailing label. In this condition, the two flaps 2 overlie one another as shown, and retaining means here illustrated as a rubber band 6 is placed about them, being engaged in the notches 3 which are provided for this purpose. This retaining means is sufficient to retain the package in the erected condition shown in FIG. 3 but can be readily released. It will be appreciated that other retaining means can be utilized, for instance staples, clips, twist wires of metal or plastic, or the like. It will also be appreciated that in addition to the flaps 2 which are shown, additional flaps could be provided at other exposed edges of other ones of the respective plate portions, but I have found that the provision of the two illustrated flaps 2 is entirely sufficient for my purposes.

In the condition shown in FIG. 3 the package can be mailed and objects which are mounted on the locations 5 (which are now concealed in the interior of the package) can thus be shipped without any further preparation.

Arriving at their intended designation, the package is then converted from a mailer to a display or exhibition stand. This is done simply in that the retaining means 6 is removed and the package is now folded first back to fiat condition, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, and then is folded in a direction opposite to the direction in which it was folded to arrive at the FIG. 3 configuration, until it assumes the identical configuration shown in FIG. 3 (see FIG. 4) but this time with the previously concealed side B facing outwardly and the previously exposed side A facing inwardly. In other words, in FIG. 4 the package is again of pyramidal shape and the flaps 2 again overlie one another. This time, however, the objects 7, such as control knobs for electrical instruments or in fact any other kinds of objects which can be shipped in this manner are exposed at the exterior of the package. The retaining means 6 is again placed about the flaps 2 and this retains the package in the configuration shown in FIG. 4.

Of course, the objects 7 may now be removed if and when it should be necessary to use them, rather than to display them,and it is also not necessary on arrival of the package at its intended designation, to reverse it to the configuration shown in FIG. 4. Instead it could simply be moved to flat condition and the objects 7 could be displayed in that condition or they could simply be removed for use.

The objects 7 can be mounted in various different way which will offer themselves readily to those skilled in the art. In FIG. 5 I have simply shown by way of example, a sticker 8 which is herein formed of a dyecut or otherwise shaped. The circle 8b of foam material or the like, having two opposite adhesive faces provided with a release paper 80. In this manner, when the release paper 8a is pieled off, the sticker 8b can be adhered with one of its adhesive face to one of the locations 5 and an object can be adhered to the other adhesive face. Naturally, other materials and other ways of securing the objects are entirely within the scope of the present invention and will ofier themselves readily in a variety of possibilities to those skilled in the art.

It will be appreciated that when the package has been folded to assume the configuration shown in FIG. 4, the side B of the plate portion 1a will face downwardly and constitutes the base of the pyramidal configuration. It is for this reason, namely so that the package may rest on this side, that no objects can be mounted on it.

By resorting to my invention, there is afforded a very simple and inexpensive package which greatly facilitates mailing and subsequent handling of certain objects that is of any objects which can be mailed and exhibited in this manner. Of course, the term mailed, includes also other forms of transportation, for instance by truck or the like, rather than merely transportation through the postal system.

It will be appreciated that when the objects 7 project to any significant extent from the respective surfaces B of the plate portions, the locations 5 where they are affixed on these respective surfaces must be so selected that when the body 1 is folded to the condition shown in FIG. 3, the objects 7 on different ones of the plate portions will not contact one another and prevent proper folding. In other words, the objects 7 must in effect intermesh, that is they must not engage when the body is folded to assume the FIG. 3 condition.

It will be understood that each of the elements described above, or two or more together, may also find a useful applications in other types of constructions differing from the types described above.

While the invention has been illustrated and described as embodied in a convertible package, it is not intended to be limited to the details shown, since various modifications and structural changes may be made without departing in any way from the spirit of the present invention.

Without further analysis, the foregoing will so fully reveal the gist of the present invention that others can, by applying current knowledge readily adapt it for various applicafions without omitting features that, from the standpoint of prior art, fairly constitute essential generic or specific aspects of this invention and, therefore, such adaptations should and are intended to be comprehended within the meaning and range of equivalence of the following claims.

What is claimed as new and desired to be protected by Letters Patent is set forth in the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A convertible packaging device for shipping and subsequent display of objects, comprising a substantially rigid strip-shaped sheet-material body having the shape of a geometric solid in flat condition and being provided with two opposite exposed sides one of which is adapted to carry discrete objects thereon; a plurality of fold lines partly subdividing said body into four triangular plate portions and along which said body is adapted to be folded in one direction from a flat condition to one erected pyramidal condition in which said plate portions surround an enclosed space with said one side facing inwardly of the same, and in another direction from the flat condition to another erected pyramidal condition in which said plate portions surround an enclosed space but with said one side facing outwardly of the same; releasable and reusable retaining means for releasably retaining said body in the respective erected conditions for subsequent return to said flat condition; and mounting means affixed to at least three of said plate portions on said one side of said body and operative for mounting respective objects whereby, when said body is in said one erected condition said objects will be concealed and protected in its exterior, and when said body is converted from said 'one to said other erected condition said objects will be exposed and accessible at its exterior.

2. A packaging device as defined in claim 1, said body having two longitudinally extending transversely spaced lateral margins; and wherein said fold lines so subdivide said body that said plate portions are of triangular outline and arrayed longitudinally of said body with the bases of alternate plate portions of triangular outline being located at one of said margins and the bases of the remaining plate portions of triangular outline being located at the other of said margins.

3. A packaging device as defined in claim 2, wherein said sheet-material is cardboard.

4. A packaging device as defined in claim 1, wherein said plate portions comprise two terminal plate portions located at opposite ends of said body and each having a longitudinally facing free edge; and a pair of foldable flaps each extending along one of said free edges and overlying one another when said body is in said erected conditions, said retaining means cooperating with said flaps for retaining them in overlying state.

5. A packaging device as defined in claim 4, said retaining means being a rubber band placed about said flaps when the same overlie one another.

6. A packaging device as defined in claim 1; and further comprising a plurality of discrete objects mounted on said one side within the outlines of respective ones of said plate portions.

7. A packaging device as defined in claim 6, said objects being three-dimensional and projecting from said one side; and wherein said mounting means mounts said objects on said one side within the outlines of respective ones of said plate portions at such locations relative to one another that said objects on different ones of said plate portions do not interfere with one another when said body is folded to said one erected condition. y 

1. A convertible packaging device for shipping and subsequent display of objects, comprising a substantially rigid strip-shaped sheet-material body having the shape of a geometric solid in flat condition and being provided with two opposite exposed sides one of which is adapted to carry discrete objects thereon; a plurality of fold lines partly subdividing said body into four triangular plate portions and along which said body is adapted to be folded in one direction from a flat condition to one erected pyramidal condition in which said plate portions surround an enclosed space with said one side facing inwardly of the same, and in another direction from the flat condition to another erected pyramidal condition in which said plate portions surround an enclosed space but with said one side facing outwardly of the same; releasable and reusable retaining means for releasably retaining said body in the respective erected conditions for subsequent return to said flat condition; and mounting means affixed to at least three of said plate portions on said one side of said body and operative for mounting respective objects whereby, when said body is in said one erected condition said objects will be concealed and protected in iTs exterior, and when said body is converted from said one to said other erected condition said objects will be exposed and accessible at its exterior.
 2. A packaging device as defined in claim 1, said body having two longitudinally extending transversely spaced lateral margins; and wherein said fold lines so subdivide said body that said plate portions are of triangular outline and arrayed longitudinally of said body with the bases of alternate plate portions of triangular outline being located at one of said margins and the bases of the remaining plate portions of triangular outline being located at the other of said margins.
 3. A packaging device as defined in claim 2, wherein said sheet-material is cardboard.
 4. A packaging device as defined in claim 1, wherein said plate portions comprise two terminal plate portions located at opposite ends of said body and each having a longitudinally facing free edge; and a pair of foldable flaps each extending along one of said free edges and overlying one another when said body is in said erected conditions, said retaining means cooperating with said flaps for retaining them in overlying state.
 5. A packaging device as defined in claim 4, said retaining means being a rubber band placed about said flaps when the same overlie one another.
 6. A packaging device as defined in claim 1; and further comprising a plurality of discrete objects mounted on said one side within the outlines of respective ones of said plate portions.
 7. A packaging device as defined in claim 6, said objects being three-dimensional and projecting from said one side; and wherein said mounting means mounts said objects on said one side within the outlines of respective ones of said plate portions at such locations relative to one another that said objects on different ones of said plate portions do not interfere with one another when said body is folded to said one erected condition. 